by ago 15 views
Following are recent news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.
Mulberry Money
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark, and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director for Arkansas David Branscum recently presented $10 million to the city of Mulberry to upgrade a water treatment plant, which has returned to full operations with the help of this federal investment.
The USDA Rural Development grant and loan allowed the city to make critical repairs to the water treatment plant while also expanding its capacity to better serve the community, according to a statement from Boozman’s office.
“Reliable access to clean, safe water is something every community should be able to count on,” Boozman said in a statement. “The investment was vital to make key repairs as well as expand Mulberry’s water treatment plant. Enhancing this facility will protect the community from the potential disruption of potable water access. I was pleased to support this federal assistance and will continue advocating continued rural water infrastructure improvements, including through Farm Bill 2.0, that are essential for every community to thrive.”
Boozman is chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, which has USDA oversight.
Student Numbers
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has achieved its highest total enrollment since 2019, with 2,095 students for fall 2026, according to first-class-day enrollment figures reported Aug. 19. The fall 2026 enrollment is a 12.3% increase over fall 2025. ATU-Ozark also set new records for entering freshmen and concurrent enrollment.
“Our enrollment increase represents students who have chosen ATU-Ozark as a place to build a future, high school students who are getting a head start on college and careers and families across our region who see the value of the opportunities we provide,” said Dr. Sheila R. Jacobs, ATU-Ozark chancellor. “I am incredibly proud of our faculty and staff and grateful to our K-12, industry and community partners whose work and commitment have helped make this growth possible.”
Entering freshmen for ATU-Ozark are up 12.5%, marking the largest entering freshman class in campus history. Concurrent enrollment is up 25.1% from fall 2025. Undergraduate enrollment is up 3%, the highest enrollment number since 2016. Transfer student enrollment is up 9.6%.
The growth continues a four-year trajectory for ATU-Ozark. Since fall 2022, total enrollment has increased 22.5%. Traditional undergraduate enrollment is up 13.5% during the same period. Fall 2026 marks the fourth consecutive year of total enrollment growth at ATU-Ozark and represents a transition from the pandemic-era disruption experienced between 2018 and 2022 to a sustained period of recovery and growth.
Choctaw Money
The Choctaw Development Fund has donated $148,500 to the city of Pocola (Okla.) to complete dirt work and install a parking lot at the new Pocola Community Center. The city purchased a building for the community center, which has been renovated and opened to the public. Ongoing updates include remodeled bathrooms and a new parking lot.
The Choctaw Development Fund’s contribution will help with dirt work and the installation of an 18,000 square foot parking lot that’s expected to be completed in October.
“It’s a very, very useful donation to help finish up our community center,” said Pocola Mayor Roy Walker. “We couldn’t have done it without Choctaw Nation.”
The community center was created as a gathering space for residents, as well as a revenue-generator for the town, with event and facility rentals available.
“The Pocola Community Center is a great addition to the town, giving its citizens a place to gather, generate income, host events and build community,” said Angel Drake, Choctaw Development fund manager. “We’re excited to contribute to a project that will continue to serve Pocola for decades to come.”
Mercy Money
The U.S. Marshals Museum recently announced announced that youth and students will receive free general admission every Saturday for the remainder of 2026, thanks to a sponsorship from Mercy. The initiative is designed to reduce financial barriers and provide more young people with a chance to visit the museum.
“We are deeply grateful to Mercy for helping us make the Museum more accessible to young people and families throughout our region,” said Ben Johnson, president and CEO of the U.S. Marshals Museum. “This partnership will allow thousands of youth and students to engage with stories of courage, service, justice and sacrifice while gaining a greater understanding of American history, civics and the rule of law.”
Free general admission will be available every Saturday through Dec. 26, 2026, to youth ages 17 and younger. Students aged 18 and older must present a valid student identification card to receive free admission. All visitors under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of their visit. Regular admission rates will apply to accompanying adults and other visitors who do not qualify for the program.
The Museum’s galleries explore more than two centuries of U.S. Marshals Service history, from the American frontier and the enforcement of federal law to fugitive apprehension, judicial security, witness protection and the recovery of missing children.
“Mercy is proud to support opportunities that strengthen families, educate young people and enrich the communities we serve,” said Ryan Gehrig, president of Mercy Fort Smith Communities. “We are pleased to partner with the U.S. Marshals Museum to ensure more students can benefit from this important educational and cultural resource.”
Mercy Recognition
Mercy hospitals in Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas have been recognized among the nation’s top-performing hospitals for heart attack care, earning the American College of Cardiology’s NCDR Chest Pain-MI Registry Platinum Performance Achievement Award for 2026.
The award is the highest level awarded by the ACC and recognizes hospitals that consistently deliver high-quality, guideline-driven care to patients experiencing heart attacks, according to Mercy. The award places Mercy Hospital Fort Smith and Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas among a select group of hospitals nationwide recognized for excellence in cardiovascular care.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800,000 people in the United States experience a heart attack each year. Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical to improving survival and reducing long-term complications.
Free daily email newsletters from the Arkansas business & politics team readers trust.
Free forever. Unsubscribe anytime. We never share your email.
To sign up, use our secure forms: Statewide Northwest Arkansas Fort Smith Northeast Arkansas
by Phillip Womack
by Erik Dees
by Shannon Newton
by Justin Allen
by Dr. Michael Hargis
ago
ago
ago
ago
ago
38,402 views
3,617 views
2,866 views
2,474 views
1,172 views
Talk Business & Politics is a news website that covers business, politics and culture in Arkansas. You can also sign up for daily e-mail news delivered every morning to your inbox.
by Jeff Della Rosa
by Tina Alvey Dale